It would seem in this consumer capitalistic society that there is constant pressure from a very early age, that each family needs to not only keep up with the Joneses, but ideally, to surpass them on some significant level. After all, nobody really wants to be at the tail end of the line when it comes to visible achievements and accomplishments, because to be in that position is to be in the position of a loser. So then, many of us desire that others see us as quite accomplished, and thereby deserving of admiration and respect, which is the type of monument that we want to see displayed in front of our house, as a fitting tribute to that success.
America is a very rich country, so it certainly makes sense that many of us should have a strong desire to take on the accouterments of that success, done through our hard work and dedication. To a certain degree, that seems like a fairly reasonable thing to strive for because having certain creature comforts often makes for a more satisfying life. The thing is though that when the game appears to be about getting access to or owning certain accouterments so as to give the impression that we are successful, but at the same time we have little or nothing to show that we have contributed in any meaningful way to the society that we are a part of, then our overall priority should be reevaluated.
In this world, there are plenty of things that need to be addressed and done, and the more that we see of the real world, the better that we understand that not all is well and healthy within it, which is why rather than accumulating this or that consumer item, which we don’t really need, we should instead focus on doing our good part to help make society a better place for our good participation in it.
Indeed, a society filled with selfish people who are all about themselves and have completely bought into the rat race is never going to be a healthy society. Fortunately, we don’t all have the same desires, or the same goals, or the same mindset, for we are a mixture of many different elements, and the best of these people, are often those who have examined their life, and when found wanting, have made it their point, to change what needs to be change within them, so as to be a more complete and caring person, with the understanding that since we are all in this together, that we need to work together, for the greater good.
In the end, each of us will have to face our Maker, and perhaps there will be those whose only complaint is that they didn’t accumulate more personal monuments or spend enough time appreciating their own genius, who will duly reap what they have sown. Then there are those others, who took a step back from the madness of the crowds, and understood that the race isn’t to the swiftest, or even to the best, because it’s not really a race, but rather it is us doing our good part to bring light to where there is darkness, and necessary perspective to all those that seem too wrap up in their own supposed glory to see clearly.